Effect of stunning current on downgrading in turkeys

1. Turkeys were electrically stunned with 75, 150 or 250 mA per bird to examine the effect of current on carcase quality defects. The defects that were examined included skin and muscle haemorrhaging, broken bones and engorgement of veins with blood. 2. The incidence of ventricular fibrillation at these currents was 26, 97 and 100%, respectively. Haemorrhaging in the breast muscle was the only variable affected by stunning current and was greatest when 250 mA was used. 3. It is recommended that turkeys should be stunned with 150 mA per bird.